PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between phillip harris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ziggy Vondopoulos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). phillip harris had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

harris
vs
Vondopoulos

182 cm
18
225 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
21
268 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, phillip harris!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ziggy Vondopoulos!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Sam Margolis and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
harris is looking to clinch but Vondopoulos is avoiding it.
harris tries to clinch but Vondopoulos moves out of range.
harris tries to clinch up but Vondopoulos circles away and keeps his distance.
harris fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
harris is looking to clinch but Vondopoulos is avoiding it.
harris closes the distance and clinches up with Vondopoulos, looking for a takedown. harris pushes Vondopoulos against the cage but Vondopoulos circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Vondopoulos looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
harris not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Vondopoulos trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Vondopoulos missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Vondopoulos throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as harris works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Vondopoulos makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

harris is rocked!
Vondopoulos throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as harris works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Vondopoulos must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Vondopoulos looking to pass the guard.
Vondopoulos thows a big elbow that misses.
harris controls Vondopoulos momentarily but Vondopoulos frees himself.
Vondopoulos looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vondopoulos thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Vondopoulos postures up and lands a big shot to harris's brow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vondopoulos throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Vondopoulos circles away from the clinch attempt.

Vondopoulos closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Vondopoulos lands in his opponent's guard.
harris is breathing heavily.
Vondopoulos cracks harris with a solid left hand.
Vondopoulos trying to control the position from guard on top but harris is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
harris is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Vondopoulos looking to pass the guard.
Vondopoulos throwing strikes from guard but harris blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vondopoulos postures up and lands a big shot to harris's brow.
harris could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
harris working a defensive guard here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
harris is looking to clinch but Vondopoulos is avoiding it.
A head kick misses from Vondopoulos.

harris looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Vondopoulos moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Vondopoulos kicks harris off and gets to his feet.
harris looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
harris closes the distance and clinches up with Vondopoulos, looking for a takedown. harris pushes Vondopoulos against the cage but Vondopoulos circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for phillip harris. That's going to take a lot out of him.
harris fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Vondopoulos fails with the takedown

and harris counters with a single leg into guard. Vondopoulos didn't expect that.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vondopoulos wants to sweep but no luck.
Vondopoulos thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
harris preventing the sweep.
Vondopoulos is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
harris is looking to stand up but Vondopoulos won't let him.
harris slips nicely into half guard.
Vondopoulos slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Vondopoulos throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Vondopoulos is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
harris wants to pass the guard but Vondopoulos is keeping the position.
Vondopoulos manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. harris manages to get himself to full guard.
Vondopoulosis looking to pass into half guard but harris pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now harris is in guard.
harris content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
harris in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Vondopoulos had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. harris is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Vondopoulos Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take harris's back instead.
harris tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Vondopoulos dominating with strikes here.
Oh harris is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Vondopoulos connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Vondopoulos working the ground and pound effectively.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vondopoulos lands a big elbow.
Vondopoulos in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Vondopoulos avoids the attempt from harris to control.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Vondopoulos cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Vondopoulos scoring with strikes but harris is staying in there.
harris is in a horrible position here. Vondopoulos smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
harris is in a horrible position here. Vondopoulos smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ziggy Vondopoulos dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Vondopoulos tries to grapple but his opponent circles
enabling harris to counter with a crisp jab.
Ziggy Vondopoulos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Vondopoulos.
harris circles away from the clinch attempt.
phillip harris is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Vondopoulos moves in looking to clinch but harris pushes him off.
Vondopoulos tries to clinch there but harris circles away.
Vondopoulos tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
harris swats away the attempt to clinch by Vondopoulos.
Vondopoulos fails in his attempt to clinch.
Vondopoulos tries to clinch up.
Vondopoulos tries to clinch up but harris circles away and keeps his distance.
Vondopoulos misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Vondopoulos doesn't manage to clinch there - harris circles away.
Vondopoulos is breathing heavily.
Vondopoulos tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Vondopoulos is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Vondopoulos is looking to clinch.
Vondopoulos is looking to clinch but harris is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
harris avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Vondopoulos is looking to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Vondopoulos looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Vondopoulos fails with an attempt to clinch.
Vondopoulos moves in looking to clinch but harris pushes him off.
Vondopoulos tries to clinch up but harris circles away and keeps his distance.
Vondopoulos tries to clinch up.
Vondopoulos wants to clinch up but harris keeps it at a distance.
Vondopoulos tries to clinch up but harris circles away and keeps his distance.
Vondopoulos tries to clinch but harris moves out of range.
Vondopoulos fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
phillip harris has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ziggy Vondopoulos.
Vondopoulos is looking to clinch.
Vondopoulos tries to clinch but harris moves out of range.
Vondopoulos moves in looking to clinch but harris pushes him off.
Vondopoulos fails in his attempt to clinch.
harris swats away the attempt to clinch by Vondopoulos.
Vondopoulos is looking to clinch but harris is avoiding it.
Vondopoulos tries to clinch there but harris circles away.
Vondopoulos tries to clinch there but harris circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Nice takedown defense from harris. No joy for Vondopoulos on that attempt.
Vondopoulos is looking to clinch but harris is avoiding it.
harris keeps the fight on the outside.
harris stuffs the takedown.
Vondopoulos tries for a takedown but harris sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Vondopoulos wants to clinch up but harris keeps it at a distance.
Vondopoulos is looking to clinch.
Vondopoulos tries to clinch but harris moves out of range.
Vondopoulos fails with an attempt to clinch.
Vondopoulos fails with an attempt to clinch.
Vondopoulos wants to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Vondopoulos looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Vondopoulos tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
harris swats away the attempt to clinch by Vondopoulos.
Vondopoulos fails with a takedown attempt.
harris avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vondopoulos fails in his attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Vondopoulos looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Vondopoulos tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Vondopoulos doesn't manage to clinch there - harris circles away.
harris keeps the fight on the outside.
Vondopoulos shoots in for a takedown but harris shows good takedown defense.
harris keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Vondopoulos tries to clinch up but harris circles away and keeps his distance.
Vondopoulos tries to clinch up.
Vondopoulos is looking to clinch but harris is avoiding it.
Vondopoulos moves in looking to clinch but harris pushes him off.
Vondopoulos fails in his attempt to clinch.
Vondopoulos fails with the takedown.
Vondopoulos moves in looking to clinch but harris pushes him off.
Vondopoulos shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says harris as he avoids it easily.
harris circles away from the clinch attempt.
Vondopoulos fails in his attempt to clinch.
harris keeps the fight on the outside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Vondopoulos tries to clinch but harris is having none of it.
Vondopoulos looks frusrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Vondopoulos fails with a takedown attempt.
Vondopoulos tries to clinch but harris moves out of range.
Vondopoulos shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with harris but harris pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Vondopoulos tries to clinch there but harris circles away.
Vondopoulos shoots in but no luck this time.
Vondopoulos fails in his attempt to clinch.
Vondopoulos is looking to clinch.
Vondopoulos wants to clinch up but harris keeps it at a distance.
Vondopoulos fails with an attempt to clinch.
Vondopoulos tries to clinch but harris is having none of it.
Vondopoulos tries to clinch but harris is having none of it.
Vondopoulos misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Vondopoulos fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Vondopoulos doesn't manage to clinch there - harris circles away.
Nice takedown defense from harris. No joy for Vondopoulos on that attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

phillip harris dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

harris moves into range and clinches up with Vondopoulos.

Vondopoulos has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but harris regains guard immediately.
harris has momentary wrist control but Vondopoulos slips an elbow through the middle.
Vondopoulos content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
harris can't keep his opponent in guard - Vondopoulos advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Vondopoulos wants to take a breather but harris is having none of it.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Vondopoulos lands a nice short elbow.

Vondopoulos is trying to work for a kimura but harris is defending well.
harris trying to hold on to Vondopoulos's head to control him but Vondopoulos postures up.
Vondopoulos trying to control from half guard but harris is working away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Vondopoulos is trying to work for a kimura but harris is defending well.

Vondopoulos is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and harris defends it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vondopoulos misses with a head shot. harris uses the momentum to regain guard.
Vondopoulos postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
harris has momentary wrist control but Vondopoulos slips an elbow through the middle.
Vondopoulos wants to pass the guard but harris is keeping the position.
Vondopoulos lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Vondopoulos lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Vondopoulos preventing the sweep.
Ziggy Vondopoulos has got the better of the ground game so far.
harris throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Vondopoulos stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. harris swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Vondopoulos is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! harris is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! harris has escaped and now he's on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vondopoulos is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
harris trying to control but Vondopoulos is working from the bottom.
Vondopoulos looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
harris wants to control from the top but Vondopoulos keeps moving.
harris preventing the sweep.
harris wants to pass the guard but Vondopoulos is keeping the position.
Vondopoulos lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for harris!
Vondopoulos working the ground and pound effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
harris keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Vondopoulos is landing with some decent strikes but harris is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Vondopoulos is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. harris can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Vondopoulos landing strikes, looking to finish!
harris takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
harris in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
harris tries to lock up and control but Vondopoulos gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
harris is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Vondopoulos is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
harris taking shots to the head.
Vondopoulos landing punches.
Vondopoulos lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Vondopoulos landing strikes from the mount.
Vondopoulos scoring with strikes but harris is staying in there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vondopoulos working harris over with strikes here.
Vondopoulos lands a nice shot to the head.
harris bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Vondopoulos has his foot on harris's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. harris works his way back into a safe position though.
Vondopoulos throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
harris won't allow Vondopoulos to get back to his feet.
Vondopoulos has a closed guard, preventing harris from standing up.
Vondopoulos trying to strike off his back.
Vondopoulos utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Vondopoulos wants to sweep here but harris controlling him for the moment.
Vondopoulos tries to strike from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
harris throws a head kick that half lands.
harris throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Vondopoulos darts in and clinches harris up against the cage.
Vondopoulos has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Vondopoulos prevents harris from breaking the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ziggy Vondopoulos comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Vondopoulos has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ziggy Vondopoulos!